A hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) struggling to push through the entangled vines of the laurel dodder. This is a parasitic species getting all it needs from other plants, just like all the other members of the genus cassytha of the laurel family.
These thin vines will not be able to withstand the power of the sea turtle and will snap and let the turtle through. But how can the sea turtles see the difference between the brightly colored laurel dodder vines and nylon ropes and lines? It cannot, and thus they will be suffering a slow and gruesome death.
Fortunately Bird Island has been fully protected since the 1960s, so whatever the sea will bring of human garbage will be collected and safely recycled.
Last updated on 24 October 2021
